What’s Up in the Sky – March 2022

March’s Evening Planets:

Uranus is in Cetus the Sea monster until around 10 PM. 

March’s Evening Stars:

The Winter Triangle will be up until around midnight this month: Sirius, the brightest star viewed from Earth, is in Canis Major the Great Dog; Betelgeuse is in Orion the Hunter; and Procyon is in Canis Minor the Small Dog. Spot Capella in Auriga the Charioteer, Spica in Virgo the Maiden, Arcturus in Boötes the Herdsman, Aldebaran in Taurus the Bull, and bright Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins. Also find the stars of constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus, Cepheus, Leo, Hydra, Draco, Hercules, and Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (the Big and Little Dippers).

March’s Morning Planets:

Bright Venus could be viewed as of 4 AM in the first half of March and as of 5AM in the second half, moving between Sagittarius the Archer and Capricornus the Sea-goat. Mercury is in Capricornus the Sea-goat as of 6 AM in the first half of the month. Red Mars could be seen moving between Sagittarius the Archer and Capricornus the Sea-goat 2 hours before sunrise. Saturn will be in Capricornus the Sea-goat for 2 hours before sunrise. Dwarf Pluto will be in Sagittarius the Archer as of 5 AM and lingering until sunrise.

March’s Morning Stars:

The Summer Triangle of Vega in Lyra the Harp, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, and Altair in Aquila the Eagle will be up until sunrise. Look for reddish Antares in Scorpius the Scorpion, Castor and Pollux in Gemini the Twins, Arcturus in Boötes the Herdsman, and Spica in Virgo the Maiden, along with the stars of constellations Leo, Hercules, Libra, Cancer, Cassiopeia, Ophiuchus, Cepheus, Draco, and Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (the Big and Little Dippers).

March Skylights

• March   2  New Moon at 12:35 PM
• March 10  First Quarter Moon at 5:45 AM
• March 10  Moon at apogee(251,200 miles away)
• March 20  Vernal Equinox  at 11:30 AM
• March 18  Full Moon at 3:15 AM
• March 23  Moon at perigee(229,800 miles away)
• March 23  Saturn, Venus, Mars form a triangle close to horizon, pre-dawn
• March 25  Third Quarter Moon 1:35 PM

Times given in EDT.